Insect and tick repellent formulations and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a formulation comprising: 2-undecanone in an amount of about 5% to about 50%; at least one hydrophobic base in an amount of about 5% to about 65%; at least one alcohol in an amount of about 5% to about 50%; and at least one emulsifier in an amount of about 5% to about 15% and methods of repelling insects and ticks by applying to a subject or a substrate a formulation of the invention.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A monophasic formulation comprising:
 2-undecanone in an amount of about 5% to about 20% by volume in the formulation; 
 at least one hydrophobic base in an amount of about 20% to about 65% by volume in the formulation; 
 at least one alcohol in an amount of about 5% to about 30% by volume in the formulation; and 
 at least one emulsifier in an amount of about 5% to about 15% by volume in the formulation. 
 
     
     
       2. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of oil of lemon  eucalyptus  (OLE), p-menthane-3,8-diol, and/or geraniol, optionally in an amount of about 5% to about 15%. 
     
     
       3. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic base is a branched hydrocarbon, an unbranched hydrocarbon, a hydrophobic polymer, a fatty acid, a fatty acid ester, a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, and/or a triglyceride. 
     
     
       4. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic base is a plant-based oil, optionally wherein the plant-based oil is avocado oil, borage oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, castor oil, chamomile oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil, evening primrose oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, sweet almond, palm oil, palm kernel oil,  arctium lappa  seed oil, sesame oil, borgo officialis seed oil,  brassica campestris  oleifera oil, brevoortia oil, bubulum oil, cistus ladaniferus oil,  elaeis Guineensis  oil, almond oil, pine oil, olive oil, peanut oil, flax seed oil, wheat germ oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, linseed oil, macadamia oil, neem oil, argan oil, grape seed oil, thistle oil, and/or algal oil and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic base is soybean oil, cottonseed oil and/or coconut oil. 
     
     
       6. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alcohol is ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, and/or denatured alcohol. 
     
     
       7. The monophasic formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one emulsifier is polysorbate 20, sorbitan oleate, potassium sorbate, and/or sodium benzoate. 
     
     
       8. A method of repelling an insect pest or a tick, comprising:
 applying the monophasic formulation of  claim 1  to a subject or a substrate in an amount effective to repel the insect or tick. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the insect is a mosquito, sand fly, filth fly, chigger, flea, black fly, deer fly, horse fly, lice, roach, ant, and/or fire ant. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein about 90% to about 100% of the insects and/or ticks are repelled and/or the insects and/or ticks are repelled for up to about 7 hours after application. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subject is a human and/or the substrate is fabric, cotton products, clothing, wrist bands, bedding, linens, towels, curtains, draperies, wood products, furniture, carpet, floors, walls, baseboards, netting, paper, water, trash containers, dumps, tents, paint, plants, and/or soil. 
     
     
       12. A product infused with the monophasic formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       13. The product of  claim 12 , wherein the product is a textile, a plastic, latex, rubber, cellulose, a wick, a candle, paint, a cosmetic, a lotion, a shampoo, a conditioner, and/or a mousse. 
     
     
       14. The product of  claim 13 , wherein the textile is clothing, bedding, linens, towels, curtains, draperies, tents, and/or netting. 
     
     
       15. A monophasic formulation comprising:
 2-undecanone that repels insects and ticks in an amount of about 5% to about 10% by volume in the formulation; 
 at least one hydrophobic base in an amount of about 45% to about 55% by volume in the formulation; 
 at least one alcohol in an amount of about 10% to about 15% by volume in the formulation; 
 at least one emulsifier in an amount of about 8% to about 12% by volume in the formulation; and 
 oil of lemon  eucalyptus  (OLE) in an amount of about 8% to about 12% by volume in the formulation. 
 
     
     
       16. The monophasic formulation of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic base is soybean oil. 
     
     
       17. The monophasic formulation of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one alcohol is ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and/or denatured alcohol. 
     
     
       18. The monophasic formulation of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one emulsifier is polysorbate 20 and sorbitan oleate. 
     
     
       19. A method of repelling an insect pest or a tick, comprising:
 applying the monophasic formulation of  claim 15  to a subject or a substrate in an amount effective to repel the insect or tick. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the insect is a mosquito, sand fly, filth fly, chigger, flea, black fly, deer fly, horse fly, lice, roach, ant, and/or fire ant. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein about 90% to about 100% of the insects and/or ticks are repelled and/or the insects and/or ticks are repelled for up to about 7 hours after application. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subject is a human and/or wherein the substrate is fabric, cotton products, clothing, wrist bands, bedding, linens, towels, curtains, draperies, wood products, furniture, carpet, floors, walls, baseboards, netting, paper, water, trash containers, dumps, tents, paint, plants, and/or soil. 
     
     
       23. A product infused with the monophasic formulation of  claim 15 . 
     
     
       24. The product of  claim 23 , wherein the product is a textile, a plastic, latex, rubber, cellulose, a wick, a candle, paint, a cosmetic, a lotion, a shampoo, a conditioner, and/or a mousse. 
     
     
       25. The product of  claim 24 , wherein the textile is clothing, bedding, linens, towels, curtains, draperies, tents, and/or netting.